In the mayhem that followed the conviction of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for rape by a CBI special court on August 25, 32 people were killed and 248 injured in Panchkula and Sirsa, even as violence rocked other parts of Haryana as the sect supporters went on the rampage. Twenty-eight people were killed in Panchkula, the epicentre of the violence, and four in Sirsa.
A PTI report at 4 p.m., quoting Civil Hospital doctors, said two more deaths were reported on August 26, taking the death toll to four.
Centre takes note of Haryana promise to maintain law and order
A Union Home Ministry release at 3.30 p.m. said the situation in Haryana was assessed at a review meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and was found to be under control at present, though it was being carefully monitored. The Minister took note of the promise of the DGP of Haryana that the law and order situation would be kept in control, the release added.
Army in talks with Dera followers to evacuate them
The Army has no plans to enter the Dera as of now, our correspondent Ashok Kumar quotesHisar Range GoC Rajpal Punia as saying at a press briefing at 2.30 p.m. “They've come here to take stock of the situation. Very satisfied with the co-ordination between administration, paramilitary and the Army. Joint operation room has been set up for coordination, satisfied with the way the things have gone so far,” he said.
The city is still shut down and the Army is in talks with people inside the Dera headquarters for their peaceful evacuation.
Army personnel conduct a flag march after their deployment near Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters in Sirsa on August 25, 2017, a day after violence triggered by the conviction of sect head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a rape case. | Photo Credit: PTI
According to the Army, 24 columns of around 80 soldiers each have been deployed in Haryana. While 12 columns were deployed in Panchkula, eight have been sent to Sirsa. Two columns each have been sent to Mansa and Mankot.
Centre says situation under control
The Central government refuses to blame the Haryana government. Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi says it is an ongoing situation. "DGP Haryana has assured that the situation is under control,"said Mr. Mehrishi as he emerged from a meeting at Mr. Rajnath Singh's residence.
The Chaupta area of Sirsa is deserted on August 26, 2017, a day after the violence that claimed at least 30 lives. | Photo Credit: Sushil kumar Verma
Dera centres to be searched
The Haryana government has ordered a search of all “congregation centres” of the Dera Sacha Sauda, according to State Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Ram Niwas.
''We have ordered a search of all ‘naam charcha ghars’ (congregation centres) of the Dera Sacha Sauda wherever they are located in Haryana,” Mr. Niwas told PTI at 1.30 pm
“We have asked security personnel to conduct searches at all Dera centres thoroughly and seize any weapons found,” he added.
The Haryana Chief Secretary said Ram Rahim Singh’s ‘Z plus’ security was withdrawn after his conviction.
High Court raps State and Central governments
A special bench of the Haryana and Punjab High Court comes down sharply on the State and Central governments for the violence, reports our correspondent Vikas Vasudeva from Panchkula at 12.30 pm. The court calls their response to the situation a "political surrender" and asks how the governments had not taken notice of the buildup of Dera supporters.
Residents gather in front of a government building vandalised by Dera Sacha Sauda followers a day before, in Panchkula on August 26, 2017. | Photo Credit: AP
Rajnath reviews security situation
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh reviews the security situation in north India, particularly Haryana, at noon. Top officials, including Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and Intelligence Bureau chief Rajiv Jain, gave detailed presentations about the situation in Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh, Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and chiefs of paramilitary personnel were also present at the meeting.
While Panchkula and Sirsa were “very tense”, the situation in the rest of Haryana was “tense but under control”, the Minister is believed to have been told.
Sirsa completely shut down
Life in Sirsa has come to a standstill as curfew-like restrictions were imposed. Milk supply has been affected in several areas as the agitated followers set a milk plant on fire, located near the sect headquarters. Hotels too are facing the brunt as they are running out of supply of essential items, reports PTI.
Schools, colleges, cinema halls, petrol pumps have been shut as a precautionary measure, while people have been asked to stay indoors.
Bid to evacuate supporters
At 11.30 am, the Army is near the Dera headquarters in Sirsa, reports our correspondent Ashok Kumar. It is trying to establish contact with the people inside in a bid to evacuate them. The Army has clarified that they have not entered the premises.
Followers of the Dera chief have stayed put on the Dera headquarters despite appeals by the Army and the authorities to vacate the premises, reports PTI.
The Army, which along with police had put up barricades at entry points of the premises following the Friday violence, is mulling its options, said a senior official, who did not wish to be named.
The sprawling Dera campus, which is spread over nearly 1,000 acres, is a township on its own, with schools, sports village, hospital and cinema hall.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police in Panchkula, Ashok Kumar, has been suspended.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has been summoned to Delhi.
Locals welcome judgment
While hoping for the situation to turn better, the locals welcomed the judgement and blamed the State government for going soft on the Dera followers and not making adequate security arrangements.
Situation tense but under control
The situation in most parts of Haryana is tense but under control as of6 am on Saturday, a statement from K. S. Dhatwalia, Director General of the Press Information Bureau, said.
“As per Panchkula Control Room, Haryana, the situation in most of the part of Haryana is tensed (sic) but under control. Situation in Panchkula and Sirsa is very tense but under control. There are reports of approx. 31 Nos (29 deaths in Panchkula and 2 deaths in Sirsa) casualities and many injured as of now,” the statement read.
No reports of violence
There have been no reports of violence since Friday night in Sirsa, police told PTI, asserting that the situation was under control in the district.
“The law and order situation is under control as there has been no report of violence since last night,” said a senior police officer.
Close watch in Delhi
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, a file photo | Photo Credit: Akhilesh Kumar
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, a file photo | Photo Credit: Akhilesh Kumar
Meanwhile, Section 144 of the CrPC has been imposed in 11 of the 13 police districts in Delhi barring north and central Delhi, said Delhi Police spokesperson Madhur Verma.
The Delhi Police on Friday night said that they had no plans to seal the city borders, but they are keeping a close watch on the area in the outskirts following sporadic violence in different parts of the Capital after the verdict.
“We have no plans to restrict passenger movement, but extra deployments have been made at the border areaa and we will keep an eye on those entering the city to see if they are planning to organise and assemble, which won’t be allowed because of prohibitory orders in place,” said Mr. Verma.
Flag march
The Army carried out a flag march in the area on Friday night to maintain law and order. Life has come to a standstill due to curfew-like restrictions imposed by the authorities to prevent any untoward incident.
Two companies of the Army and 10 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed. Police personnel asked the locals to stay indoors.
In Panchkula on Friday, CBI judge Jagdeep Singh held Ram Rahim, the 50-year-old flamboyant chief of the Dera, guilty of rape in a case that was registered on the basis of an anonymous written complaint in 2002 that he had sexually exploited two female followers.
On the basis of the report, a case was registered against him in December 2002 by the CBI on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The quantum of sentence against Ram Rahim will be pronounced on August 28.
(With inputs from PTI, Vijaita Singh, Vikas Vasudeva and Ashok Kumar)